Silverdale Parish Council

2015/08/03

3rd August 2015
11023 Un-confirmed Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Silverdale Parish Council held in the Silverdale Institute on Monday, 3rd August 2015.
11024 Present: Vice Chairman – A.J. (Tony) Houghton, Councillors J. (John) Bennett, S.L. (Shirley) Mason, K. (Keith) Palmer, N. (Nigel) Ribbons and D. (David) Sandiford, the Clerk – L.D. (Denise) Challenor, the Deputy Clerk – S.D. (Sue) Hayward and more than 30 members of the public.
11025 Apologies for Absence: Councillors T.G. (Terry) Bond and P.N. (Paul) Williams and City Councillor N. (Nigel) Goodrich.
11026 Receipt of Declarations of Members’ Interests Relating to any Items Appearing on the Agenda
None.
11027 Minutes of the Previous Meetings
The minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on Monday, 6th July and the Extraordinary Meeting held on Monday, 20th July, were approved then signed by the Vice Chairman.
11028 Receipt of Information about Matters Arising from the Minutes of Previous Meetings, not Covered by the Agenda
Members referred to item 11007 (2), regarding proposals for the use of the Institute field, and noted that the extraordinary meeting held on 20th July had subsequently been arranged to discuss the planning application for this.
11029 Matters Raised by Members of the Public for Future Consideration
1. A resident advised that a leaflet has been circulated around Silverdale which claims to be ‘Saving Silverdale’, she described the leaflet as containing strong statements and said that it is not clear who has published the document. A member of the public responded to say that the leaflet was issued by the ‘Friends of Silverdale’ who are campaigning to keep Silverdale green. The Vice Chairman advised that any leaflets and posters must include full contact details.
2. The planning application for ‘land adjacent to the former garden nursery’ – a resident pointed out that the outline application is for four and five-bedroomed detached houses, she believed that there is no local demand for larger properties, but there is a demand for affordable housing.
3. A number of residents raised the matter of Whinney Fold and the possibility of a residential development for a 19 unit scheme (8 affordable homes and 11 private dwellings). Various points were made including:
(1) 19 dwellings constitutes a relatively major development for the village – the Arnside and Silverdale Development Plan Document (DPD) has not been finalised and the need for housing in the village is not clear; it seems that there have been instances of properties, with a local occupancy clause attached, being left vacant for long periods;
(2) a belief that the proposed site would be over-developed;
(3) the village would lose a green area – a request was made for the Parish Council to object;
(4) the proposal is perceived as conflicting with National Planning Policy which, apparently, states that great weight should be given to conserving landscape and scenic beauty in AONBs and that permission should be refused for major developments except in exceptional circumstances;
(5) apparent ‘improvements’ to Shore Road, but attempts to establish what the proposed changes are have proved to be unsuccessful;
(6) references to a decision recorded by Lancaster City Council (Lancaster CC) in July 1997 (in connection with the first Whinney Fold development) which says that any future applications would be looked at ‘unfavourably’;
(7) it was felt that there are brownfield sites available which could be developed which would be preferable to developing on a greenfield site;
(8) concerns about noise and the loss of wildlife habitats;
(9) a belief that there is a groundswell of opposition to the development;
(10) concerns about drainage provision for waste water and sewerage;
(11) a view that developers try to gain support from local people and sometimes offer funds to local organisations as a way of possibly counteracting resistance.
Members of the public were reminded that comments should be made direct to Lancaster CC, to the developers (Applethwaite) and to City Councillor N. (Nigel) Goodrich (117 Main Road, Bolton-le-Sands, LA5 8DX. Tel: 07425160906 ngoodrich@lancaster.gov.uk) and that the DPD is reported on monthly at parish council meetings.
11030 Planning
Members RESOLVED to bring forward agenda item10 (b), regarding Whinney Fold – residential development of a 19 unit scheme, including 8 affordable homes and 11 private dwellings.
RESOLVED to oppose the proposed development at Whinney Fold. The Vice Chairman advised that this Council would distil the arguments put forward by members of the public (outlined above and in correspondence to the Parish Council) when compiling their response and would refer to the record of the decisions made by Lancaster CC in 1997; it was noted that the proportion of affordable homes should be higher than that of private homes.
11031 Report from City Councillor Nigel Goodrich
Councillor Goodrich was not present at the meeting and no report was available.
11032 Reports on any Meetings Attended by Members or the Clerk
1. Trowbarrow Advisory Group
Councillor Palmer reported that Mr Tony Riden (Countryside Officer, Arnside/ Silverdale AONB) had led the group on a walk round the nature reserve during which the issues around the Moss Lane footpath closure were discussed.
11033 Correspondence
Receipt of the following items of correspondence was noted and any action determined as indicated:
a) a resident expresses concerns about vehicles attempting to access Emesgate Lane from Spring Bank and suggests improved signage and/ or a bollard along Spring Bank. He also asks that the bunting (put up for Field Day) be removed as some has come down and it looks untidy as well as being a safety hazard. RESOLVED not to request that a bollard be installed, but to request that Highways improve the signage;
b) a request for the cost of hiring the Institute for an open meeting regarding the Silverdale Station waiting room and a contribution towards the ‘station in bloom’ project. RESOLVED to donate £100 towards the station in bloom project and £10 towards hire of the Institute (both under s137);
c) North West Air Ambulance thank the Council for its donation and give additional information about the service;
d) FLAG publication;
e) Lune Valley Housing Association Financial Statements & Annual Report 2015;
f) Marmax brochure – recycled plastic products. It was noted that this might be of interest to Councillors Bennett and Houghton in connection with benches.
11034 Burning of Waste
It was noted that bonfires can be a nuisance and cause air pollution and that advice on smoke control along with a ‘Burning of Waste’ factsheet can be found on the Lancaster CC website: http://www.lancaster.gov.uk/environmental-health/environmental-protection/smoke. RESOLVED to display the Lancaster CC guidelines about domestic bonfires on the parish council notice board and to submit them to the parish magazine for publication.
11035 Planning (continued)
(1) It was noted that that the following planning applications were dealt with under the provisions of Standing Order 25a, and comments made as indicated:
15/00739/FUL Silverdale Village Institute, Spring Bank. Construction of a skate park, multi-use games area and running track. An extraordinary meeting was held on 20th July – the Council have written a lengthy response supporting the plans in principal, but requiring much additional information before formalising their support. Details can be found on the Parish Council’s website: www.silverdale-pc-lancs.co.uk;
155/0086/TPO Land North of 12 Lindeth Road. Crown lift to 3 sycamore trees. NO PLANNING OBJECTIONS;
15/00623/CU The Sun House, Lindeth Road. Erection of a two-storey side extension, erection of outbuilding and change of use of land to domestic curtilage. NO PLANNING OBJECTIONS.
(2) The following planning applications were considered and comments made as indicated:
15/00900/FUL 3 Old Hall Cottages, Cove Road. Erection of a single storey side extension and construction of a dormer window to the side elevation. NO PLANNING OBJECTIONS;
15/00915/OUT Land adjacent to former garden nursery, Lindeth Road. Outline application for the erection of two dwellings with associated landscaping and access; it was noted that the proposal does not meet the need for smaller units.
(3) It was noted that no planning decisions had been advised by Lancaster CC.
11036 Benches
It was noted that Councillor Bennett has circulated a record and summary of the current condition of the benches to Members and that 30 are considered to be in grade 1 condition (not requiring any immediate attention), nine are in grade 2 condition (it is suggested that a refurbishment/ replacement plan over the next few years is considered to secure the future of these) and three are in grade 3 condition – two of which (at Woodwell and Hollins Lane) have been made safe by taking them out of use and one (on the shore) has been refurbished by Councillor Houghton using recycled plastic. Councillor Houghton asked Members for feedback on whether or not they think the use of the recycled plastic works/ looks well on the bench concerned.
11037 Urgent Action Taken in Accordance with Standing Order 25 (other than Planning)
25(a) Parish Council Property and Functions
It was noted that Mr Stefan Laws has advised that another stepping post is in need of replacement in the children’s’ playground and that, in view of the delivery charges and likelihood that another will need replacing in the near future, the Clerk has ordered two posts.
25(b) Non-Parish Council Property and Functions
None.
11038 Finance
(a) It was noted that no payments have been received since the last meeting.
(b) RESOLVED to authorise payment and sign cheques for the following accounts:
Mr Paul Williams (toilet cleaning, repair & supply of bags for dog waste) £259.57 (068)
Mr Stefan Laws (£166.25 (contractor) + £60 (strimming) + £70.50 (removal/ replacement of stepping posts)) £296.75 (069)
Kedel Ltd. (plastic bench materials) £221.64 (070)
Gaskell Hall (s137 food festival) £84.00 (071)
Envirocare (contractor) £189.19 (072)
Mr T. Houghton (travel expenses re. benches) £108.00 (073)
United Utilities (public toilets; it was noted that Cllr Bennett will check the meter reading) £171.64 (074)
(c) The quarterly Financial Statement of Accounts was noted and approved.
11039 Charity Commission
It was noted that the Clerk has made annual submissions to the Charity Commission for the three charities – Public Quarries, Public Watering Places and Silverdale Children’s Playground.
11040 Risk Assessment and Insurance Cover
RESOLVED to record the £5,000 pledged by this Council to Broadband for the Rural North as a risk. Further RESOLVED that the Clerk check that the insurance policy covers the replacement of new for old and to find out how much the insurance premium would increase by if the benches are valued at £600 – £700 each.
11041 Ash Trees Surgery
It was noted that Ash Trees surgery’s open access / no appointments required system has recently been changed to pre-booked appointments only. Members felt that this will reduce the opportunity for villagers to converse with other villagers in the waiting room – such social contact is seen as beneficial particularly to elderly and vulnerable residents. It was also noted that the change in policy had not been well publicised. RESOLVED that the Clerk write to the surgery about these issues.
11042 Bus Shelter
It was noted that the bus shelter on Park Road has been repaired recently. RESOLVED to consider removing the bus shelter should it need major repairs in future and to monitor its usage meanwhile.
11043 Arnside Silverdale Development Plan Document (DPD)
Councillor Bennett reported that he has spoken with Lancaster CC’s Planning Policy department about the sites which this Council has put forward for protection and was advised that Lancaster CC need specific information as to the boundaries for the areas of land to be protected e.g. the watering places in order for the sites to be embedded in the DPD. It was noted that the Chairman might have maps which can help with this.
11044 Items for Information
Councillor Palmer reported that there is a problem with inconsiderate parking in the centre of the village on Saturday mornings and showed photographs of cars parked on the pavement along Stoneleigh Court. This practise makes it difficult for pedestrians to use the pavement, especially with prams.
11045 Suggestions for Future Agenda Items
1. Inconsiderate parking. (Councillor Palmer)
11046 Date of Next Meeting
It was noted that the date of the next meeting is Monday, 7th September 2015. Items for the agenda and copies of reports to reach the Clerk before Monday, 31st August.